Indication

Cyproterone acetate is used in women to treat:- Moderate to severe hirsutism secondary to female androgenization.- Moderate to severe androgen dependent loss of scalp hair (androgenic alopecia).- Moderate to severe forms of acne.- Moderate to severe seborrhoea.Cyproterone acetate is used in men to: – Reduce the force of sexual urge in men with sexual deviation.- Treat inoperable prostatic carcinoma.- Reduce the initial increase of male sex hormones inpatients being treated with LHRH agonists.- Treat hot flushes in patients under treatment with LHRH analogues or who have had orchiectomy.

Action

Cyproterone acetate prevents testosterone from having effects on various organs in the body.

Dose advice

Women of childbearing potential:- Treatment should be commenced on the first day of the cycle.- In addition, these women should receive a progestogen oestrogen containing preparation to provide the necessary contraceptive protection. – Tablets should be taken at the same time each day.Increased body and facial hair:- The usual starting dose is 50 mg once a day taken from the first to the tenth day of the cycle.- Once a satisfactory response has been the dose can be reduced and doses as low as 10 mg per day for ten days per month have been shown to be adequate for maintenance therapy.Scalp hair loss and acne: – The usual starting dose is 100 mg once a day taken from the first to the tenth day of the cycle.- Once a satisfactory response has been the dose can be reduced and doses as low as 10 mg per day for ten days per month have been shown to be adequate for maintenance therapy.Postmenopausal and hysterectomised women: – In postmenopausal or hysterectomised patients cyproterone acetate may be administered alone.- The usual dose is 25 to 50 mg once daily for 21 days followed by a seven day tablet free interval.- The duration of treatment depends on the severity of the condition and the response to treatment.Men:- Reduction of drive in sexual deviation in men.- The initial dose is usually 50 mg twice daily. – The dose may need to be increased to 100mg twice or three times a day.- When an adequate clinical response has been achieved the dose should be reduced to the lowest possible dose required.- Dose reduction should be done gradually over several weeks.Inoperable prostatic carcinoma in patients without orchiectomy: – 100mg twice or three times a day.- Treatment should not cease nor the dosage reduced after clinical improvement or remission has occurred.Reduction of initial increase of male sex hormones in patients undergoing treatment with LHRH agonists: – Initially 100mg twice daily alone for five to seven days, followed by 100mg twice daily for three to four weeks together with an LHRH agonist. Treatment of hot flushes in patients under treatment with LHRH analogues or who have had orchiectomy: – 50 to 150 mg per day. Cyproterone acetate should not be taken during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.